(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
Amazon spent 2013 attempting to wow us and, for the most part, succeeded.
This year saw the debut of Amazon's Mayday customer service button -- the marquee feature for its newest line of Kindle Fire tablets -- the revival of the US Postal Service through Sunday delivery, and, of course, the frenzy of debate over autonomous flying robots serving as the next-generation of delivery men ahead of Cyber Monday.
Think Amazon out did itself in 2013? Well, get ready for even more eye-popping surprises in 2014.
Known for its willingness to play the long game, Amazon often goes through cycles of large investments before reaping the rewards, and 2014 will be another year when the company "percolates," said NPD analyst Marshal Cohen.
"You can feel that they're getting ready in a year or two to come out with some very big things," he said.
Of course, that won't stop Amazon from introducing more incremental products and services next year as well. But focusing on the next big thing is more fun. Here are five bold ideas we think are most likely bubbling under the surface at Amazon. Sorry, drones not included.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at the Kindle event last year. If Amazon has a smartphone, it will be cheap because the company wants to make money off what you buy from a device and not the device itself.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
1. Finally, that smartphone
We may finally see the debut of the long-rumored Amazon smartphone. With so many high-profile smartphones already in the mix, Amazon will need to do a lot to stand out.
We may finally see the debut of the long-rumored Amazon smartphone. With so many high-profile smartphones already in the mix, Amazon will need to do a lot to stand out.
Looking to the Kindle Fire tablet as the model, you can expect a smartphone that can quickly tap into the Amazon storefront. Think Amazon's 1-click feature on its Web site is easy? Amazon may make it an even more integral part of the mobile experience.
The Amazon phone would also likely be a media powerhouse -- as long as you're an Amazon Prime customer. The device would have easy access to streaming movies and be able to quickly access your purchased music.
Like it or not, the Amazon smartphone will also likely come preloaded with apps and widgets to help direct customers to its various services, which includes Goodreads, Zappos, Audible, andKindle.
One other way the Amazon phone could emulate the Kindle Fire: an attractive price. While reports of a free Amazon phone turned out to be wrong, the company could decide to sell the smartphone unlocked at a steep discount.
The strategy has worked for Google and its Nexus 5 phone, which it is selling for $350 unlocked. Amazon could do Nexus 5 one better and offer a $300, or even $250, phone. Amazon has the added benefit of making up any potential losses through the potentially higher rate of transactions conducted on the phone.
With a low price tag, don't expect the hardware to excite anyone. But, you can bet it will be powerful enough and offer a big enough screen to make sure you have a smooth video-viewing experience.
An Amazon service rep responding to a Kindle Fire HD Mayday request.
(Credit: CNET)
2. The Kindle, your tutor
Thanks to Mayday, your Kindle Fire can tell you how to change the brightness of your tablet or how to order an e-book. So why couldn't it also teach your kids math?
Thanks to Mayday, your Kindle Fire can tell you how to change the brightness of your tablet or how to order an e-book. So why couldn't it also teach your kids math?
If Amazon's acquisition of TenMarks is any indication, the company may be looking to delve into education. TenMarks creates math practice programs and is a teaching tool. When Amazon purchased it in October, it said TenMarks would develop new education apps for Kindle tablets.
It's not a huge stretch to see a potential marriage of TenMarks' education resources and the Mayday service -- perhaps a premium option that allows for tutors to help with math equations via one-sided video tutelage?
Crazy? Perhaps. But just crazy enough for Amazon? Certainly.
Couple that with Amazon's newly released free-time features on a tablet designed for penny-pinching parents, and Amazon makes the Kindle the ideal children's tablet.
Via: CNET
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